Sign



F. .1. BAUMElSTER 1,951,467

SIGN

March 20, 1934.

Filed March 6, 1953 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGN Fitch J. Baumeister, Park Ridge, 111., assignor to Commercial Display Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of .Illinois Application March 6, 1933, Serial No. 659,809 R S S E 7 Claims. (Cl. 40-141) This invention relates to improvements in ilwill be apparent from the following detailed deluminated signs, having for its object to provide scription when taken in connection with the acan improved construction of sign of this type companying drawing, which forms a part hereof. adapted for twenty-four hour service, particu- In the drawing, larly along highways, that is to say, a sign which Figure 1 is an elevation of a sign embodying will be illuminated during the day by the refiecthe invention; tion of the daylight and during the night by the Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of light emitted from the headlights of approaching one of the characters to illustrate the manner of motor vehicles or the like. mounting the same to the backing;

I am fully aware that various devices of this Figs. 3 and 3a are perspective views of the backtype have been heretofore employed, but these ing and a character to further illustrate the devices fail efiectively to accomplish their purmounting of the character to the backing; and pose. One difliculty is the formation of mois- Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a modified structure and frost upon the reflective surface or ture. I

15 mirror in the cold weather, which prevents the Asillustrated in Fig. Lasign embodying my in- 7 reflection of light illuminating the characters and vention may be mounted adjacent a highway so renders the sign useless. Another difficulty is that the light reflected from the headlights of aptheir inability to reflect the light rays so as to proaching vehicles will illuminate the sign and produce a sharply defined outline about the charprovide a very effective and attractive display.

go acters or a sharp contrast of illumination be- This sign is also constructed for use during the 7 tween the characters and the background. day, the light rays striking the display in like An object of the invention is to provide a sign manner so that there will be provided an efiective of exceedingly simple and inexpensive construcand attractive display. tion, which prevents the moisture or frost form- It will, however, be understood that the sign g5 ing upon the mirror or reflective. surface, and very 'may be used for different purposes, and accordso effectively reflects the light, both at night and at ingly, its use is not limited to highways. Likeday, to sharply def ne the characters and to prewise, it will be definitely understood that the vent diffusion of the reflected light with the sign may be used in a variety of places and for background. indicating a variety of. effects. To illustrate,

an A further object of the invention is to provide I have found that the sign may be employed a sign of this type having the characters indisolely for illuminating purposes at public exvidually formed and mounted upon the backhibitions or fairs where maximum illumination ground, thereby giving a very pronounced indiwith minimum lighting expense is desirable, say viduality to each character and very novelly acfor illuminating exterior or interior walls of build- 35 centuating its outline so that the sign as awhole ings. The sign may be used for this purpose will be very efiective during the day even though and accomplish astonishing results due to its not illuminated by direct rays. Ontheotherhand, remarkable light reflective properties. It will this individual formation and mounting of the be seen, therefore, that it is not necessary to use characters allows the use of a construction prethe structure disclosed as a sign in the ordinary 4 venting the deposit of moisture upon the mirmeaning of the term, because it may be used as ror, viz., the use of an hermetical seal in a simple an indicator, a symbol, signal or decorative deand practical manner about each character to sign, with or without lettering or the like, and prevent admission of moisture and a consequent for a variety of different purposes. formation of frost rendering the sign ineffective. As shown in the drawing, the Sign Comprises 45 A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting or backing 2, also known as a backa sign of simple and inexpensive construction, ground, designed according to the style or shape and of such attractiveness as to produce excepof sign desired. Using a separate backing for tional results. each word of the display, as shown in Fig. 1, is

Astill further object of the invention is to pronot essential to the present invention, but very 50 vide means for producing effective reflection of aptly increases the attractiveness of the sign in 5 light rays both during the day and night so as connection with the form of the characters, symsharply to define the charactersor display against bols, decorated designs, or other like indicia that the background whereby these characters or dismay be employed thereon. Each character 3 play may be distinctly seen at a distance. may be individually mounted upon backing 2.

65 Other objects and advantages of my invention These characters may be made of suitable material having a light diffusing surface 4 on one side and a mirror or light reflecting surface5 on the other. Various forms of glass, such as moss, cathedral or chipped glass, may be used. It is desirable that the mirror or light reflecting surface 5 be in optical contact with the glass which may be accomplished by applying. the material forming the light reflectng surface, say a coating of silver, mirrored glass, or the like, directly to the glass character. I find that excellent results are obtained when the mirror or reflecting surface 5 is in optical contact with the glass forming the characters, symbols, or indicia employed, and when applied to the side opposite to the light diffusing surface 4.

Each character 3 is cemented to backing2 at and about its periphery as indicated at 7. The outer edge of the rear surface of such character is chamfered or beveled to provide a surface 8 for cement 7. A substantial grip is obtained if a beveled or chamfered surface 8 is provided.

To prevent moisture from reaching light reflecting'surface 5, backing 2, which may be made of wood, is'impregnated with linseed oil or other suitable solution to make it impervious to water. It will be remembered, of course, that backing 2 may be made of material other than wood and therefore will not necessarily require this waterproofing treatment. The front face of backing 2 may then be stained or otherwise treated or provided with a non-reflective surface 9.

A feature of the present invention resides in outlining characters 3, in marginal relation, with a light reflective band or narrow strip 12 comprising a'portion of material 10. Material 10 is preferably of light-reflecting character, reflect ving the light thrown thereagainst along the border 12 only, and consequently, the light rays reflected outwardly from the light reflective surface 5 through the characters provide a very definite outline for these characters against the non-reflective surface This prevents any diffusion of the reflect -d light rays or merging of the letters with the background, such as heretofore'found in devices of the prior art. I find that material 10 very aptly confines the reflected light within the limits of the character, that is, the light which is reflected outwardly to illuminate the display. Material 10 seems to ac- :centuate and to cause the characters 3 to stand out in bold effect, making the same very easily seen and very attractive at a distance.

On the other hand, I flnd that if material 10 is applied over; the entire area covered by each character, a smooth surface may be provided, which, cooperating with cement '7, furnishes a very effective hermetical seal. Furthermore, this smooth surface tends to permit the retention of a negative pressure or vacuum between the characters and the backing, which increases the gripping effect and prevents admission of moisture to light reflective surface or material 5.

Material 10 may be any suitable light paint applied to the stained surface 9, or it may be porcelain or other material suitable for the purpose attached to backing 2. If the paint or other suit able material does not provide the required smooth surface, the backing 2 may be varnished,

7 which also tends to preserve the stain or the nonreflective surface 9. Fig. 3 illustrates the manner in which material 10 may be applied to backing 2 to allow a sufficient marginal border or band 12 about each character. Cement 7 is preferably applied to the outer margin or beveled surface 8 of each character beforethe character is placed upon material 10, but this cement 7 may also be applied directly to material 10 before the characters 3 are placed in position. Pressing the characters tightly against material 10 with the mirror or lightereflecting surface 5 in position tends to displace all air beneath the character, so that, when cement 7 dries, a vacuum exists, which, as previously stated, increases the gripping effect and excludes moisture from coming into contact with mirror 5.

It will be apparent that the construction of each character and the manner of securing the same to backing 2 may be varied considerably without departing from the scope of the invention.

I find that material 10 may be omitted and that a suflicient marginal border or band 12 may be formed about each character or symbol by the cement '7, this being obtained, as shown in Fig. 4, by extending the cement 7 beyond the edge of the character or symbol. It will be readily noted that the cement 7 will perform the same purpose as material 10, although it may not extend, all round, uniformly from the edges of the characters or symbols. It likewise seems to accentuate and cause the characters or symbols 3 to stand out in bold effect, making the same very easily seen and very attractive at a distance. This fea- I ture of a reflective margin or border 12 may be omitted when other features of the invention are employed.

From the foregoing description, it is obvious that the sign herein described may be used for day and night service and that it will effectively reflect the light and thus provide a brilliant and attractive display. Surrounding the characters 3 with light reflectivemargin 12 very effectively permits the use of the sign during the day and the moisture from entering beneath the charac-.

ters and from destroying the reflectivity of the mirror. The characters may be in script, or otherwise in one word, or in a unit symbol when employing certain features of the invention, say when adopting members 3 with a light diffusing surface 4 on one side and a light reflecting surface 5 on the opposite side, with the latter surface 5 so arranged as to prevent the elements from causing a frosting, clouding or other undesirable action destroying the light reflective properties of this surface.

I find that light thrown on the sign at night by the headlights of an automobile, or otherwise,

does not tend to blind the traveler or cause any diffusion of the letters, which has been one of the difficulties in devices heretofore provided. I also find that the sign may be used continuously throughout the year without evidencing any deposit or moisture or frost on the light reflecting surface 5. This advantageous result of continuous use throughout the year and under varying weather conditions without moisture or frost forming upon the light reflecting surface 5 is obtained by the novel arrangement of this surface 5 in optical contact with the glass figure and hermetically sealed to exclude moisture. Consequently, temperature changes will not result in condensation, formation of frost, or other effects destructive to or hampering the light reflective qualities thereof.

It will be clearly understood that I particularly direct my invention to a light reflective surface 5 in optical contact with the glass character or symbol 3 capable of reflecting light cast thereon so as to be usable at all times, and particularly at the time the light is cast thereon, as distinguished from characters having luminous paint which absorbs light only while it is cast thereon and is reflected at a later time, thus making the sign noticeable only at night for a brief period. Employing the novel form of mirror 5 capable of effectively reflecting the light as it is cast thereon, renders-the sign usable at all times, and particularly during the time it is illuminated and intended to be most effective as a source of attraction. By the term sign, as used herein, I refer to any structure, whether decorative or not, which may or may not have lettering, designs, characters or symbols thereon, but which will embody the principle of construction shown and described herein.

I flnd that remarkable results will be obtained when the characters 3 are constructed with their front surface 4 capable of diffusing the light reflected from the rear surface having the mirror 5 in optical contact therewith.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the gist of my invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adopt the same for use under varying conditions of service, without eliminating certain features, which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be defined and secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A sign of the type disclosed consisting of a backing having a relatively non-reflective surface, light reflective characters on said backing, means for providing a relatively smooth surface upon said backing upon which said characters are mounted, said means being light reflective and forming a marginal outline about said characters whereby the illumination of each character will sharply contrast with the non-reflective surface of said backing and with the illumination of the other characters, and means forming a hermetical seal between said characters and said relatively smooth surface to prevent the admission of moisture beneath said characters.

2. A sign of the type disclosed consisting of a .non-reflective backing, light reflective characters mounted upon said backing, a mirror between each character and said backing, and light reflectivemeans forming a marginal outline of said characters upon said non-reflective backing whereby the illumination of each character will contrast with the non-reflective backing and with the illumination of the other characters.

3. A sign of the type disclosed consisting of a backing treated to-be impervious to moisture, a coating applied to said backing to preserve said treatment and to provide a relatively smooth surface at least on one side, light reflective outlines upon said backing characterizing the designation of individual characters, corresponding characters for said outlines, and hermetical sealing means for said characters to prevent the admission of moisture beneath said characters.

4. A sign of the type herein disclosed consisting of one or more light-reflective characters having a light diffusing surface and means for reflecting the light, a backing for said characters, and means for mounting said characters upon said backing with said light reflective means in hermetically sealed relation between said characters and said backing and with the air excluded to effect a vacuum therebetween whereby to increase the gripping action of said characters and prevent the admission of moisture to said light reflective means.

5. A sign of the type herein disclosed consist ing of one or more light reflective characters having a light diffusing surface and a mirror in optical contact with the opposed surface for reflecting the light, a backing for said characters, said mirror being disposed between said characters and said backing, and cementitious material between said backing and the edges of said characters to provide a hermetical seal therebetween to prevent the admission of moisture to said mirror, the air being excluded to effect a vacuum whereby to increase the gripping action holding said characters upon said backing:

6. A sign of the type disclosed consisting of a backing relatively impervious to moisture, light reflective characters on said backing, mirrors for said characters, means for providing a relatively smooth surface upon said backing upon which said characters are mounted, and means for securing said characters upon said backing and cooperating with said first means to hermetically seal the surface edges of said characters adjacent said backing and to protect said. mirrors from contact with the air and moisture.

7. A sign of the type disclosed consisting of a backing or base member, light reflective characters individually mounted upon said backing, said characters having'an outer light diffusing surface, a mirror in optical contact with the inner surface of each character, and means for hermetically sealing said mirror to prevent moisture from contacting therewith.

FITCH J. BAUMEISTER. 

